Real Estate Agents: Coach Your Clients On Preparing Their House For Sale
BATTLECALL GUEST EXPERT: Kim Polinsky, Real
Estate Agent
Success in selling a listing can boil down to minute details. It is amazing
how something like the driveway being too steep, can kill a sale. This detail is
not changeable; however there are many details that can be changed to improve
the salability of a house.
* Paint color.
* Lawn health.
* Cleanliness.
* Yard maintenance.
* Flooring condition.
* Kitchen appliances.
* Caulking in bathrooms.
There are so many details that the home owner
can affect and some are accomplished with just elbow grease!
In
explaining the preparation of the house for sale, it is best to clarify to your
clients that the house is no longer their home. It is a product that they are
selling. Once this is established, it is easier for the homeowners to see the
changes that need to be made without getting defensive about their cleanliness
or décor (or lack thereof!).
As their agent, it is best for you to walk
through the house room by room with the home owners. In each room, check the
condition of the paint, flooring, plumbing, and electrical. Both the inside and
outside of the door needs to be in good shape. Paint is a quick and cost
effective way to spruce up the house. A professional cleaning can do wonders for
an old carpet. Make sure to choose neutral colors when replacing carpets and
paint.
A very important step in preparing the house for sale is DE
CLUTTERING. Remove any unnecessary appliances, accessories, and photos.
Remember, the buyer wants to picture themselves in the house. By presenting the
de-cluttering as a way to kick start the moving process, you can take the sting
out of telling them to put away the photo of Grandma Sue. Any extra décor and
furnishings need to be removed and stored. Don't use up all of the storage space
in the house-as it then looks like there is no storage!
Once the
de-cluttering is done, the furniture needs to be edited to bare minimum. This
brings a feeling of spaciousness to any size room. By placing furniture to
emphasize the positive attributes of the house, such as a grand fireplace or
wide open entryway, you are directing the potential buyers to see the house in
its most positive light.
The most effective tip that you can give your
clients is to CLEAN the house. If you think that they can afford it, recommend
that they hire someone to do a professional cleaning. Remind them that the
insides of closets and cupboards and appliances will be viewed. Move pet beds
and litter boxes to a place out of sight and out of smell.
It is a lot of
work to prepare a house for sell-but there is a carrot at the end of the stick.
Every effort that they make will bring more money to the bottom line. It is that
simple.
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